ᐅ How do you repair damaged legs on Malm furniture?

Hello everyone,

I have a problem with the legs of my IKEA Malm nightstand. Two of the legs have small to medium damage from accidentally bumping into them – specifically, the wooden parts are chipped and now feel unstable. Since I don’t want to replace the entire table, I’m wondering: What is the best way to repair damaged legs on Malm furniture to restore both stability and appearance? I’m especially interested in how to proceed if matching replacement legs are no longer available, whether repair kits can be used, and which materials are best suited to make the repair both durable and visually discreet. Thanks in advance for any helpful experiences or instructions!

Hello, simply unscrew the damaged legs, then you can either get new ones or repair the old ones with wood filler. After that, sand and paint, and you’re done.

Hello Radekku,

First of all, it is important to check if the legs are still stable. If there are only superficial chips, it is recommended to use a high-quality wood filler to repair the damaged areas. After drying, these should be sanded smooth and, if necessary, matched in color with suitable paint or stain.

If the legs appear structurally fragile, you might consider replacing them completely. With Malm furniture, the parts are usually standardized, but to my knowledge, IKEA does not sell replacement legs separately. It is worth looking on platforms like eBay Classifieds or checking local hardware stores for compatible furniture legs with screw threads that can be adapted.

When repairing, make sure that the material and appearance roughly match to avoid unnecessarily lowering the resale value.

olivernu schrieb:
It’s worth checking platforms like eBay Classifieds or buying suitable furniture legs with threaded bolts at local hardware stores that you can adapt.

That’s brilliant! I once had a similar issue and ordered metal furniture legs, then simply cut off the original ones. With a bit of wood glue and some care, it looks great and holds really well. It’s also worth looking for special repair kits online, like white wood filler, to make it look seamless. You’ll definitely manage it! 🙂

Radekku schrieb:
What is the best way to repair damaged legs on Malm furniture to restore stability and appearance?

Why repair the legs at all instead of simply switching to replacements? This is a common topic in traditional furniture circles: repairing instead of replacing, but does it really make sense? The Malm series is inexpensive and the parts are replaceable.

I think a DIY approach with filler and sanding can be enjoyable, but often it takes more time than just installing a new leg. Sometimes repairing is a nice craft project, but it usually doesn’t improve the long-term function.

Just my perspective – how do you see it?

zarlu schrieb:
I think a DIY repair using filler and sanding can be fun, but it often takes more time than simply replacing the leg.

This mainly depends on the availability of suitable replacement parts. IKEA itself does not offer individual legs for Malm furniture, which makes replacement more difficult. Repairing damaged legs with appropriate wood filler, sanding, and painting is a practical solution under these circumstances, especially if the damage is minor.

Polyurethane-based wood filler is recommended because it adheres well and is durable. It is important to sand the repaired area carefully after it has dried. Finally, a surface treatment with waterproof varnish or matching stain is advisable.

It is also important to check the leg’s stability before starting the repair. If it is compromised, modifying it or using a replacement leg from third-party manufacturers may be a better option.